arXiv subjects

Loredana Gastaldo

Publications and source records attributed to Loredana Gastaldo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Machine Learning on Heterogeneous, Edge, and Quantum Hardware for Particle Physics (ML-HEQUPP)

The next generation of particle physics experiments will face a new era of challenges in data acquisition, due to unprecedented data rates and volumes along with extreme environments and operational constraints. Harnessing this data for scientific discovery demands real-time inference and decision-making, intelligent data reduction, and efficient processing architectures beyond current capabilities. Crucial to the success of this experimental paradigm are several emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), silicon microelectronics, and the advent of quantum algorithms and processing. Their intersection includes areas of research such as low-power and low-latency devices for edge computing, heterogeneous accelerator systems, reconfigurable hardware, novel codesign and synthesis strategies, readout for cryogenic or high-radiation environments, and analog computing. This white paper presents a community-driven vision to identify and prioritize research and development opportunities in hardware-based ML systems and corresponding physics applications, contributing towards a successful transition to the new data frontier of fundamental science.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2026

Nuclear Charge Radius of $^9$Be from Muonic Atom Spectroscopy Using a Microcalorimeter

The $2p\to1s$ transition energy in muonic $^9$Be was measured using a metallic magnetic calorimeter, resulting in $E_{2p\to 1s}=33\,391.48(34)\,$eV. The result is 30 times more precise than the previous best measurement and enables the extraction of the corresponding nuclear charge radius $r_c($$^9$Be$)=2.5506(51)\,$fm. It is $2.4$ times more precise than the commonly used value based on electron scattering and differs from it by $2.3$ times the combined uncertainties. This measurement represents the first determination of a nuclear charge radius using muonic x-ray spectroscopy with microcalorimeters.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2025

On the possibility of superradiant neutrino emission by atomic condensates

In a recent work [B. J. P. Jones and J. A. Formaggio, Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 111801 (2025)], the possibility of superradiant neutrino emission from atomic condensates has been theoretically proposed. Subsequent analysis by Y. K. Lu, H. Lin, and W. Ketterle [arXiv:2510.21705] questioned this scenario, emphasizing the limiting role of the fermionic nature of the decayed atoms. In this study, we revisit the problem and discuss under which conditions collective emission phenomena might still emerge in cold-atom systems.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2025

Improved limit on the effective electron neutrino mass with the ECHo-1k experiment

The effective electron neutrino mass can be determined by analyzing the endpoint region of the $^{163}$Ho electron capture spectrum, provided a measurement with high energy resolution and high statistics using calorimetric techniques. Here, the Electron Capture in $^{163}$Ho collaboration, ECHo, presents an analysis of the most precise $^{163}$Ho spectrum currently available, obtained with the ECHo-1k experiment and comprising about 200 million events. A very low background rate of $B=9.1(1.3)\times 10^{-6}$ /eV/pixel/day was achieved allowing for a reliable analysis of the endpoint region. The derived endpoint energy $Q = 2862(4)$ eV is in excellent agreement with the one independently determined via Penning-trap mass spectrometry of $Q=2863.2(6)$ eV [1]. The upper limit of the effective electron neutrino mass is improved by almost a factor 2 compared to the lowest current value [2], reaching $m_{ν_\mathrm{e}} < 15 $ eV/c${^2}$ (90\% credible interval).

hep-ex↗

arXiv2025

DELight: a Direct search Experiment for Light dark matter with superfluid helium

To reach ultra-low detection thresholds necessary to probe unprecedentedly low Dark Matter masses, target material alternatives and novel detector designs are essential. One such target material is superfluid $^4$He which has the potential to probe so far uncharted light Dark Matter parameter space at sub-GeV masses. The new ``Direct search Experiment for Light dark matter'', DELight, will be using superfluid helium as active target, instrumented with magnetic micro-calorimeters. It is being designed to reach sensitivity to masses well below 100\,MeV in Dark Matter-nucleus scattering interactions.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2024

MMC Array to Study X-ray Transitions in Muonic Atoms

The QUARTET collaboration aims to significantly improve the precision of the absolute nuclear charge radii of light nuclei from Li to Ne by using an array of metallic magnetic calorimeters to perform high-precision X-ray spectroscopy of low-lying states in muonic atoms. A proof-of-principle measurement with lithium, beryllium and boron is planned for fall 2023 at the Paul Scherrer Institute. We discuss the performance achieved with the maXs-30 detector module to be used. To place the detector close to the target chamber where the muon beam will impact the material under study, we have developed a new dilution refrigerator sidearm. We further discuss the expected efficiency given the transparency of the X-ray windows and the quantum efficiency of the detector. The expected muonic X-ray rate combined with the high resolving power and detection efficiency of the detector suggest that QUARTET will be able to study the de-excitation of light muonic atoms at an unprecedented level, increasing the relative energy resolution by up to a factor of 20 compared to conventional detector techniques.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Towards Precision Muonic X-Ray Measurements of Charge Radii of Light Nuclei

We propose an experiment to measure the nuclear charge radii of light elements with up to 20~times higher accuracy. These are essential both for understanding nuclear physics at low energies, and for experimental and theoretical applications in simple atomic systems. Such comparisons advance the understanding of bound-state quantum electrodynamics and are useful for searching for new physics beyond the Standard Model. The energy levels of muonic atoms are highly susceptible to nuclear structure, especially to the mean square charge radius. The radii of the lightest nuclei (with the atomic number, $Z=1,2$) have been determined with high accuracy using laser spectroscopy in muonic atoms, while those of medium mass and above were determined using X-ray spectroscopy with semiconductor detectors. In this communication, we present a new experiment, aiming to obtain precision measurements of the radii of light nuclei $3 \leq Z \leq 10$ using single-photon energy measurements with cryogenic microcalorimeters; a quantum-sensing technology capable of high efficiency with outstanding resolution for low-energy X-rays.

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2024

Penning-trap measurement of the $Q$-value of the electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ for the determination of the electron neutrino mass

The investigation of the absolute scale of the effective neutrino mass remains challenging due to the exclusively weak interaction of neutrinos with all known particles in the standard model of particle physics. Currently, the most precise and least model-dependent upper limit on the electron antineutrino mass is set by the KATRIN experiment from the analysis of the tritium \b{eta}-decay. Another promising approach is the electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$, which is under investigation using microcalorimetry within the ECHo and HOLMES collab orations. An independently measured Q-value of this process is vital for the assessment of systematic uncertainties in the neutrino mass determination. Here, we report a direct, independent determination of this $Q$-value by measuring the free-space cyclotron frequency ratio of highly charged ions of $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ and $^{163}\mathrm{Dy}$ in the Penning trap experiment \textsc{Pentatrap}. Combining this ratio with atomic physics calculations of the electronic binding energies yields a $Q$-value of $2863.2(0.6)\,\mathrm{eV}/c^{2}$ - a more than 50-fold improvement over the state-of-the-art. This will enable the determination of the electron neutrino mass on a sub-eV level from the analysis of the electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2023

Development and characterisation of high-resolution microcalorimeter detectors for the ECHo-100k experiment

The goal of the ECHo experiment is a direct determination of the absolute scale of the neutrino mass by the analysis of the end-point region of the Ho-163 electron capture (EC) spectrum. The results of the first phase of the experiment, ECHo-1k, have paved the way for the current phase, ECHo-100k, which aims at a sensitivity below 2 eV on the effective electron neutrino mass. In order to reach this goal, a new generation of high-resolution magnetic microcalorimeters with embedded Ho-163 have been developed and characterised. The design has been optimised to meet all the challenging requirements of the ECHo-100k experimental phase, such as excellent energy resolution, wafer scale implantation and multi-chip operation with multiplexing read-out. We present the optimisation studies, the final design of the detector array and the first characterisation studies. The results demonstrate that the detectors fully match and even surpass the requirements for the current experimental phase, ECHo-100k.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Muonic-Atom Spectroscopy and Impact on Nuclear Structure and Precision QED Theory

Recent progress in laser and x-ray spectroscopy of muonic atoms offers promising long-term possibilities at the intersection of atomic, nuclear and particle physics. In muonic hydrogen, laser spectroscopy measurements will determine the ground-state hyperfine splitting (HFS) and additionally improve the Lamb shift by a factor of 5. Precision spectroscopy with cryogenic microcalorimeters has the potential to significantly improve the charge radii of the light nuclei in the $Z=3-8$ range. Complementary progress in precision should be achieved on the theory of nucleon- and nuclear-structure effects. The impact of this muonic-atom spectroscopy program will be amplified by the upcoming results from H and He$^+$ spectroscopy, simple molecules such as HD$^+$ and Penning trap measurements. In this broader context, one can test ab-initio nuclear theories, bound-state QED for two- or three-body systems, and determine fundamental constants, such as the Rydberg ($R_\infty$) and the fine-structure ($α$) constants.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2022

Measuring the electron neutrino mass using the electron capture decay of 163Ho

While the mass differences between neutrino mass states are known, their absolute masses and mass hierarchy have not yet been determined. Determining the mass of neutrinos provides access to physics beyond the Standard Model and the resulting value has implications for the growth of large-scale structure in the universe over cosmic history. Because of the importance of the topic, a number of efforts are already underway to determine the mass of neutrinos including direct kinematic measurements and indirect measurements of astrophysical phenomena that constrain the sum of the mass eigenstates through models of cosmic evolution. Here, we advocate for a collaborative international effort to perform a kinematic determination of the effective electron neutrino mass using calorimetric measurements of the decay of 163Ho. This effort is justified by the success of current experiments using the technique, its high benefit-to-cost ratio, the value of approaches with different systematic errors, and the value of measuring the electron neutrino mass rather than the electron anti-neutrino mass.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2022

Neutrino mass measurements using cryogenic detectors

The determination of the absolute mass scale of neutrinos is one of the most important challenges in Particle Physics. The shape of the endpoint region of $β$-decay and electron capture (EC) spectra depends on the phase space factor, which, in turn, is function of the neutrino mass eigenstates. High energy resolution and high statistics measurements of $β$- and EC spectra are therefore considered a model-independent way for the determination of the neutrino mass scale. Since almost four decades, low temperature microcalorimeters are used for the measurement of low energy $β$- and EC spectra. The first efforts were focused on the development of large arrays for the measurement of the $^{187}$Re $β$-spectrum. In the last ten years, the attention moved to EC of $^{163}$Ho. This choice was mainly motivated by the very good performance which could be achieved with low temperature microcalorimeters enclosing $^{163}$Ho with respect to microcalorimeters with absorber containing $^{187}$Re. The development of low temperature microcalorimeters for the measurement of the finite neutrino mass is discussed and, in particular, the reasons for moving from $^{187}$Re to $^{163}$Ho. The possibility to reach sub-eV sensitivity on the effective electron neutrino mass with $^{163}$Ho, thanks to the multiplexing of large microcalorimeter arrays is demonstrated. In conclusion, an overview on other nuclides which have been proposed as good candidates, motivated by the excellent performance of low temperature microcalorimeters is presented.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Data reduction for a calorimetrically measured $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ spectrum of the ECHo-1k experiment

The electron capture in $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ experiment (ECHo) is designed to directly measure the effective electron neutrino mass by analysing the endpoint region of the $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ electron capture spectrum. We present a data reduction scheme for the analysis of high statistics data acquired with the first phase of the ECHo experiment, ECHo-1k, to reliably infer the energy of $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ events and discard triggered noise or pile-up events. On a first level, the raw data is filtered purely based on the trigger time information of the acquired signals. On a second level, the time profile of each triggered event is analysed to identify the signals corresponding to a single energy deposition in the detector. We demonstrate that events not belonging to this category are discarded with an efficiency above 99.8%, with a minimal loss of $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ events of about 0.7%. While the filter using the trigger time information is completely energy independent, a slight energy dependence of the filter based on the time profile is precisely characterised. This data reduction protocol will be important to minimise systematic errors in the analysis of the $^{163}\mathrm{Ho}$ spectrum for the determination of the effective electron neutrino mass.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Specific Heat of Holmium in Gold and Silver at Low Temperatures

The specific heat of dilute alloys of holmium in gold and in silver plays a major role in the optimization of low temperature microcalorimeters with enclosed $^{163}\textrm{Ho}$, such as the ones developed for the neutrino mass experiment ECHo. We investigate alloys with atomic concentrations of $x_\textrm{Ho}=0.01\,\% - 4\,\%$ at temperatures between $10\,\textrm{mK}$ and $800\,\textrm{mK}$. Due to the large total angular momentum $J=8$ and nuclear spin $I=7/2$ of $\textrm{Ho}^{3+}$ ions, the specific heat of $\underline{\textrm{Au}}\textrm{:Ho}$ and $\underline{\textrm{Ag}}\textrm{:Ho}$ depends on the detailed interplay of various interactions, including contributions from the localized 4f electrons and nuclear contributions via hyperfine splitting. This makes it difficult to accurately determine the specific heat of these materials numerically. Instead, we measure their specific heat by using three experimental set-ups optimized for different concentration and temperature ranges. The results from measurements on six holmium alloys demonstrate that the specific heat of these materials is dominated by a large Schottky anomaly with its maximum at $T\approx 250\,\textrm{mK}$, which we attribute to hyperfine splitting and crystal field interactions. RKKY and dipole-dipole interactions between the holmium atoms cause additional, concentration-dependent effects. With regard to ECHo, we conclude that for typical operating temperatures of $T\leq 20\,\textrm{mK}$, silver holmium alloys with $x_\textrm{Ho}\gtrsim 1\,\%$ are suited best.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Measurement of the $^{229}$Th isomer energy with a magnetic micro-calorimeter

We present a measurement of the low-energy (0--60$\,$keV) $γ$ ray spectrum produced in the $α$-decay of $^{233}$U using a dedicated cryogenic magnetic micro-calorimeter. The energy resolution of $\sim$$10\,$eV, together with exceptional gain linearity, allow us to measure the energy of the low-lying isomeric state in $^{229}$Th using four complementary evaluation schemes. The most accurate scheme determines the $^{229}$Th isomer energy to be $8.10(17)\,$eV, corresponding to 153.1(37)$\,$nm, superseding in precision previous values based on $γ$ spectroscopy, and agreeing with a recent measurement based on internal conversion electrons. We also measure branching ratios of the relevant excited states to be $b_{29}=9.3(6)\%$ and $b_{42}=0.3(3)\%$.

nucl-ex↗

arXiv2016

Neutrino Mass, Electron Capture and the Shake-off Contributions

Electron capture can determine the electron neutrino mass, while the beta decay of Tritium measures the electron antineutrino mass and the neutrinoless double beta decay observes the Majorana neutrino mass. Electron capture e. g. on 163Ho plus bound electron to 163Dy* plus neutrino can determine the electron neutrino mass from the upper end of the decay spectrum of the excited Dy*, which is given by the Q-Value minus the neutrino mass. The Dy* states decay by X-ray and Auger electron emissions. The total decay energy is measured in a bolometer. These excitations have been studied by Robertson and by Faessler et al.. In addition the daughter atom Dy can also be excited by moving in the capture process one electron into the continuum. The escape of these continuum electrons is automatically included in the experimental bolometer spectrum. Recently a method developed by Intemann and Pollock was used by DeRujula and Lusignoli for a rough estimate of this shake-off process for "s" wave electrons in capture on 163Ho. The purpose of the present work is to give a more reliable description of "s" wave shake-off in electron capture on Holmium. For that one needs very accurate atomic wave functions of Ho in its ground state and excited atomic wave functions of Dy* including a description of the continuum electrons. In the present approach the wave functions of Ho and Dy* are determined selfconsistently with the antisymmetrized relativistic Dirac-Hartree-Fock approach. The relativistic continuum electron wave functions for the ionized Dy* are obtained in the corresponding selfconsistent Dirac-Hartree-Fock-Potential. In this improved approach shake-off can hardly be seen after electron capture in 163Ho and thus can probably not affect the determination of the electron neutrino mass.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2015

Determination of the neutrino mass by electron capture in 163 Holmium and the role of the three-hole states in 163 Dysprosium

163 Holmium to 163 Dysprosium is probably due to the small Q value of about 2.5 keV the best case to determine the neutrino mass by electron capture. The energy of the Q value is distributed between the excitation of Dysprosium (and the neglected small recoil of Holmium) and the relativistic energy of the emitted neutrino including the restmass. The reduction of the upper end of the deexcitation spectrum of Dysprosium below the Q value allows to determine the neutrino mass. The excitation of Dysprosium can be calculated in the sudden approximation of the overlap of the electron wave functions of Holmium minus the captured electron and one-, two-, three- and multiple hole-excitations in Dysprosium. Robertson and the author have calculated the influence of the two-hole states on the Dysprosium deexitation spectrum. Here for the first time the influence of the three-hole states on the deexcitation bolometer spectrum of 163 Dysprosium is presented. The electron wave functions and the overlaps are calculated selfconsitently in a fully relativistic and antisymmetrized Dirac-Hartree-Fock approach in Holmium and in Dysprosium. The electron orbitals in Dysprosium are determined including the one-hole states in the selfconsistent iteration. The influence of the three-hole states on the deexcitation (by X-rays and Auger electrons) spectrum is hardly visible. The three-hole states seem not to be important for the determination of the neutrino mass.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Electron Capture in 163Ho and Overlap plus Exchange Corrections and the Neutrino Mass

Holmium 163 offers perhaps the best chance to determine the neutrino mass by electron capture. This contribution treats the electron capture in 163 Holmium completely relativistic for the overlap and exchange corrections and the description of the bolometer Spectrum. The theoretical expressions are derived assuming single Slater determinants for the initial Ho and the final Dy Atoms. Electron capture is proportional to the probability to find the captured electron in the parent atom at the nucleus. Non-relativistically this is only possible for ns(1/2) electron states. Relativistically also p(1/2) electrons have a probability due to the lower part of the relativistic electron spinor, which does not disappear at the origin. Moreover relativistic effects increase by contraction the electron probability at the nucleus. Capture from other states are suppressed. However they can be allowed with smaller intensity due to finite nuclear size. The purpose of this work is to give a consistent relativistic formulation and treatment of the overlap and exchange corrections for electron capture in 163 Ho to excited atomic states in 163 Dy and to show the influence of the different configurations in the final Dy states. The overlap and exchange corrections are essential for the calorimetric spectrum of the deexcitation of the hole states in Dysprosium. The slope of the upper end of the spectrum, which contains the information on the electron neutrino mass, is different. In addition the effect of the finite energy resolution on the spectrum and on the determination of the neutrino mass is studied.

nucl-th↗